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Orlando Sports & Recreation

Spectator sports, biking and hiking, canoeing and kayaking, yoga and more

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Fernando Medina

Orlando Magic

Spectator Sports

Sporting events for those who just like to watch

Orlando’s seen a noteworthy spark in its burgeoning sports scene, with the addition of new teams like Orlando City Soccer and the return of the Orlando Solar Bears hockey team. Here’s a list of teams that call the Orlando area home (at least part of the year – we’re looking at you, Atlanta Braves). Find your favorite sport, then go root, root, root for the home team.

Florida League
Collegiate Wood Bat Baseball League
Six teams in Central Florida
Playing June-August
Various fields
Tickets: free-$175
321-206-9174
floridaleague.com

UCF Knights
NCAA College Football
Playing August-December
Bright House Networks Stadium
University of Central Florida
Tickets: season tickets starting at $99
407-823-1000
ucfathletics.com

Biking and hiking

Cady Way Trail
Entrance is 1/4 mile north of State Road 50 on Herndon Avenue
This 6.5-mile paved path, popular with bicyclists and stroller-pushing moms alike, connects Orlando and Winter Park and the Cross Seminole Trail in Seminole County. The trail features water fountains, rest stops and mile markers, as well as a cool 685-foot-long suspension bridge that crosses Semoran Boulevard.

Econ Trail
Dean Road, just north of State Road 50
This ever-expanding trail in East Orlando begins at Jay Blanchard Park and extends all the way to Alafaya Trail. It runs alongside the Little Econlockhatchee River, which offers pretty views and plenty of good spots to fish, canoe or just sit in the grass and enjoy a riverside picnic.

Wekiwa Springs State Park
1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka
407-884-2008
floridastateparks.org/wekiwasprings
You can canoe or kayak here (rentals are available), but this park also has 13 miles of pristine, wooded hiking, biking and horseback-riding trails. This park is very popular, particularly in summer when visitors like to swim in the clear blue spring, and when the parking lot fills, the park entrance closes. So get there early.

Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park
8300 W. State Road 46, Sanford
407-884-2008
floridastateparks.org/lowerwekiwasprings
This section of the park has no amenities, but it does have 18 miles of multi-use trails you can hike or bike.

Rock Springs Run State Reserve
30601 County Road 433, Sorrento
407-884-2008
floridastateparks.org/rockspringsrun
The park, located about 10 miles west of I-4 on County Road 433, is really just a giant swatch of underdeveloped land. It features 17 miles of multi-use trails.

West Orange Trail
501 Crown Point Cross Road,
Winter Garden
This 22-mile trail – the county’s longest – stretches through Winter Garden, Apopka and Orlando. It’s open to walkers and bikers, and some parts are open to horses, too. Four trailheads with parking are located at various points along the trail.
Bicycle Shops

Ace Metric
444 W. New England Ave., Winter Park
407-790-7802
acemetric.blogspot.com
This bike shop rallies cycle enthusiasts from all around and carries cool gear for those on the go.

Kyle’s Bike Shop
203 N. Primrose Drive
407-228-7088
kylesbikeshop.net
Bicycle sales and service, including repairs and custom wheels. Kyle’s also has a parts junkyard. If something’s broken on your bike, they might be able to save you some money on the repair by using a part from the junkyard rather than ordering new.

Loco Motion Bikes
1776 Jake St.
407-898-6411
locomotionbikes.com
In addition to sales and demos, this bike shop also offers rentals for $40 per day, a service that’s particularly appealing because of its Baldwin Park location, which is just a leisurely ride away from a paved bike path that winds around Lake Baldwin.

Mr. Bikes n Boards
950 W. State Road 434, Longwood
407-790-4964
mrbikesnboards.com
This is the former Mesh Skatepark owner’s store. It leaves the park behind and goes heavy into skateboard and cycle culture. Mr.’s repairs old bikes and sells new ones.

Orange Cycle
2204 Edgewater Drive
407-422-5552
orangecycleorlando.com
This is the area’s largest bike store, and it not only carries cycles, clothing and gear – it’s also a hub for the cycling community. This shop holds bicycling events and repair clinics, and its website is full of useful information if you’re looking for bike paths or trails.

Retro City Cycles
1806 N. Orange Ave.
407-895-2700
retrocitycycles.com
Cool-looking cycles are popular with the trendy set. This shop, celebrating six years in business, reaches out to women, in particular, with its “Wine Down” clinics and cool accessories like bicycle necklaces.

Canoeing and kayaking

Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail
dep.state.fl.us/gwt/paddling/
saltwater.htm
This 1,515-mile long paddling route along the coastline of Florida would take you months to complete. Lucky for you, it is divided into 26 segments, so you can take all the time you need. The nearest chunk to Orlando is the Space Coast segment, which is 81 miles long.

Blue Spring State Park
2100 W. French Ave., Orange City
floridastateparks.org/bluespring
Covering more that 2,600 acres, Blue Spring State Park is a designated Manatee Refuge. It is an excellent place for a swim, paddling or a picnic. During manatee season, mid-November through March, the waterways are closed – you can look at the dozens of manatees that winter here, but you won’t be allowed in the water.

Econlockhatchee River
Chuluota
dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/paddle.htm
An absolute jewel hidden at the eastern edge of the Orlando sprawl, the Econ can be easy or difficult, depending on the water levels (high in the summer, low in the spring). Paddlers will be able to catch a glimpse of a diverse array of wildlife from sandhill cranes to bald eagles to bears along the 19-mile stretch.

Juniper Springs Run
Ocala National Forest
17417 E. State Road 40,
Silver Springs
352-625-2520
www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/ocala
This is probably the best paddling opportunity in the massive Ocala National Forest you’ll get. Although it’s only seven miles long, the runs, twists and obstacles you’re likely to encounter here will have you navigating Juniper Springs Run for about four hours. This one is definitely not for beginners.

Lake County’s Blueways
paddlelake.com
Similar to a hiking trail, a blueway has physical markers that guide trail users through the waterways. The area includes the mile-long Dora Canal, connecting lakes Dora and Eustis, which was once dubbed “the most beautiful mile of water in the world” for its towering cypress trees draped with Spanish moss.

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Near Titusville
fws.gov/merrittisland
This refuge offers somewhat limited paddling opportunities since paddling is not permitted in refuge impoundments, but what is available to paddlers can be spectacular. You might see manatees, scrub jays or an alligator. We also suggest Turnbull Creek and Eddy Creek for paddlers.

Peace River
Fort Meade
dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/paddle.htm
Though not technically in Central Florida – the town nearest the launch is Fort Meade – this tea-colored stream is worth the extra drive for the prehistoric sense it imparts. Paddle its 57 miles and you’ll feel like Juan Ponce de Leon when he found Florida, provided other paddlers don’t ruin the illusion.

Rock Springs Run-Wekiva River
Apopka-DeBary
dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/paddle.htm
Put in at King’s Landing near Apopka, if you want to experience the entirety of this 27-mile respite from congestion, travel a designated wild and scenic river right in the heart of the Orlando metro area. Stop at Wekiwa Springs State Park on your way for a swim in the clear, blue springs.

Silver River
Silver Springs State Park
1425 N.E. 58th Ave., Ocala
ocalafloridastateparks.org/silverriver
The clear water, scenic views, lush subtropical vegetation and easy maneuverability of the 8-mile-long Silver River will almost keep your mind off of the fact that there are monkeys roaming around. Almost. Paddlers should use caution when near the monkeys and remember that feeding them is prohibited.

1,000 Islands
Cocoa Beach
clubkayak.com/greenwave/trip
There are so many routes you could take paddling the 1,000 Islands and probably still not see everything. This site is found on the Banana River in Cocoa Beach. Paddlers often find themselves a bit geographically challenged when they are visiting here, so bring a compass with you.

Bioluminescent Bay
Mosquito Lagoon
Near Titusville
If you can’t afford to travel to Puerto Rico’s famous bioluminescent bay, Florida’s Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon come alive with bioluminescence from May through September. The luminescence is caused by dinoflagellates (tiny things you can’t see), which glow neon-blue whenever the water is disturbed. Guides are recommended for this paddling adventure, but they are not necessary. Paddlers should begin their paddle at dusk.

Hang gliding

Wallaby Ranch
1805 Deen Still Road, Davenport
800-925-5229
wallaby.com
No mountains, no problem. An airplane will tow you and an instructor into a glide for $175; if you’re a more serious hang glider, you can book up to seven days to hone your skills and network with other gliders, including owner Malcolm Jones, who invented the tandem flying concept.

Quest Air
6548 Groveland Airport Road, Groveland
352-429-0213
questairhanggliding.com
Like Wallaby, Quest Air features a $149 tandem flight at 2,500 feet, but it also offers a 5,000-foot flight for $249. That lasts about 30 minutes, but luckily, the roar of the wind will kill the awkward silence.

Hot air balloons

Orange Blossom Balloons
Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration
2900 Parkway Blvd., Kissimmee
407-894-5040
orangeblossomballoons.com
Board the basket in the morning darkness, then watch the sunrise over Disney or the Florida swamps, depending on where the wind takes you. Upon landing, enjoy champagne and a breakfast buffet. Flights are $175 when you book online.

Orlando Balloon Rides
2900 Parkway Blvd, Kissimmee
407-894-5040
orlandoballoonrides.com
One-hour long flights departing from the Disney area end with a champagne toast and an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet at the Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration.

Thompson Aire
Maingate Lakeside Resort
7769 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee
407-421-9322
thompsonaire.com
Also taking off from Kissimmee at sunrise with post-landing champagne and breakfast, Thompson is slightly pricier ($185 for adults) than its competition, but it offers a discounted rate of $105 for youth ages 10-15.

Laser Tag

Battlefield Live Orlando
3755 N.W. Highway 17-92, Sanford
407-547-8188
battlefieldliveorlando.com
Set out on an outdoor laser tag mission at the Central Florida Zoo. Pay $20 for an hour of play, which typically includes five 10-minute-long games.

Paintball

Orlando Paintball
7215 Rose Ave.
407-294-0694
orlandopaintball.com
Eight fields, both indoor and outdoor, mean you can play paintball here even during a torrential summer downpour. Admission is $10.95, and equipment rental packages, which include all-day admission, start at $30.95.

Xtreme Paintball Xperience
1300 S. Poinciana Blvd., Kissimmee
407-873-9793
xtremepaintballxperience.com
This facility calls itself a “theme park for paintball” and boasts the largest playing fields in Central Florida, offering woods, themed fields and more. Admission is $10 per individual player and rental packages start at $15.

Skateboarding

Orlando Skate Park
400 Festival Way
407-246-2800
This outdoor concrete park is located near Fashion Square Mall. Now that Vans Skate Park is closed, it’s the only major skate park left in town.
Skydiving

Skydive DeLand
1600 Flightline Blvd., DeLand
386-738-3539
skydivedeland.com
DeLand is the skydiving training capital of the world, and this full-service facility caters to both the quivering newbie and the grizzled veteran. There’s also a bar where both can pound beers after landing.

Skydive Space Center
476 N. Williams Drive, Titusville
800-823-0016
skydivespacecenter.com
Do a tandem jump from 18,000 feet – one of the highest dives in the world – over the Space Coast. You can also enroll in “accelerated freefall training” to hone your mid-air acrobatics.

Wakeboarding

Orlando Watersports Complex
8615 Florida Rock Road
407-251-3100
orlandowatersports.com
No need for a boat here – a motorized suspended cable system pulls you on your board (or skis) through the water and, if you dare, onto ramps and other obstacles. Check the website for the variety of lessons and camps available.

College Park Yoga
3029 Edgewater Drive
407-999-7871
collegeparkyoga.com
This studio teaches ashtanga, vinyasa and power yoga classes, but also offers a yoga-for-wimps beginner class. For those on a tight budget, “community yoga” is offered every Saturday at 9 a.m. for $5. All other single classes are $15.

Full Circle Yoga
972B Orange Ave., Winter Park
407-644-3288
fullcircleyoga.com
This busy studio offers classes from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week, and drop-in classes are $14 each. Full Circle has spacious studios and variations on traditional yoga styles, including hot yoga, flow yoga, ashtanga, pre- and post-natal yoga, and a mom-and-baby class for expecting and new mothers.

Orlando Power Yoga
2415 E. South St.
407-719-0101
orlandopoweryoga.com
The Baron Baptiste-style of power yoga takes the spotlight at this yoga sanctuary. Don’t be surprised if the air conditioning’s not on: To raise students’ internal heat, this studio stays ablaze at 85-90 degrees. Single class rates are $14, and Saturdays see the discount day yoga for only $10.

Shine on Yoga
619 N. Thornton Ave.
407-601-4394
shineonyoga.com
This haven offers flow, hatha and mixed-level classes as well as zen meditation. Restoration and relaxation is the goal here. Single classes are $15.

ZOOm Air
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
3755 N.W. Highway 17-92, Sanford
407-330-0767
zoomair.us/index.html
Channel your inner Tarzan on a combination of zip lines and obstacle courses in the canopy of the forest overlooking the Central Florida Zoo. There are two courses for adults and two for kids; prices range from $12-$50.

Zipline Safari
Forever Florida
4755 N. Kenansville Road, St. Cloud
866-854-3837
foreverflorida.com
Take two and a half hours to glide 55 feet above the forested wetlands and pine flatwoods bordering St. Cloud. If you want a shot at seeing the nocturnal Florida panther, try a “moonlight safari.”